Former Arsenal striker backs Chuba Akpom to come good.
Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu has backed 20-year-old striker Chuba Akpom to be a success at the club.
Akpom has been a highly rated talent in the club’s academy for several years, scoring prolifically at under-18 and under-21 level.
He has also impressed in pre-season campaigns, as well as netting for England’s youth sides all the way up to the under-21s.
Arsenal’s Chuba Akpom scores
England U21’s Chuba Akpom celebrates scoring their third goal
The 20-year-old has though found the transition to competitive football difficult, with goalless loan spells at Coventry City and Nottingham Forest.
He has also failed to seize his brief opportunities in the first team at Arsenal in the same way Marcus Rashford has done at Manchester United.
Last season he was loaned out to Hull City, and while he helped them win promotion, his performances were unspectacular, netting seven goals – but it was a step in the right direction.
Chuba Akpom celebrates scoring the first goal for Hull City
Hull City’s Chuba Akpom celebrates with the trophy after winning promotion back to the Premier League
Whether it is enough to propel him to the Arsenal first team remains to be seen, and with the Gunners fighting to sign a new striker this summer it is only going to get more difficult for Akpom to make an impression.
Kanu clearly believes Akpom will come good and Arsenal and their fans should be patient with him.
Having invested this much time and effort into his development, they should see it through, rather than let him go on the cheap and watch him blossom like Benik Afobe.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
